From Corolla to Corvette: New car models in 2014

DETROIT (AP) — INFINITI

Infiniti is changing the names of all of its vehicles in the 2014 model year. All sedans, coupes and convertibles will have the Q badge (the M becomes the Q60, for example), while SUVs and crossovers will be called QX. The move helps clarify where each model stands in the brand's lineup and also gives a nod to the brand's original flagship sedan, the Q45.

Q50: New to Infiniti's lineup is the entry-level Q50, a small competitor to the Lexus IS and BMW 3-Series. It has a low, wide look and taut lines. Under the hood is a 328-horsepower, 3.7-liter V6 that gets 20 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway. A hybrid version, which gets an estimated 36 mpg on the highway, is also available. The Q50, which went on sale this summer, starts at $36,700 (excluding shipping) for the base model and $43,950 for the hybrid.

QX60: The QX60 crossover, previously called the JX35, gets a hybrid version that's available in both front-wheel and all-wheel-drive. Fuel economy and pricing haven't been released for the hybrid, which goes on sale in September.

JAGUAR

F TYPE: The two-seat, rear-wheel-drive sports convertible was unveiled at the Paris auto show in 2012 and went on sale in the U.S. earlier this summer. Jaguar says the F Type has the company's most advanced use of lightweight aluminum to date, giving it a stiffer and more dynamic ride. There are three engine choices: Jaguar's new 3.0-liter V6 with either 340 horsepower or 380 horsepower outputs, or a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 with 495 horsepower. The latter can go from zero to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and has a top speed of 186 mph. All are mated to an eight-speed transmission. On the inside, Jaguar has modified its touch-screen controls and now has physical dials for heating and ventilation. On the outside, there's a big grille and vertical headlights that follow the sleek lines of the car. To help the flow, the door handles remain flush with the car until they're unlocked, and a hidden rear spoiler rises at 60 mph and lowers again when the speed drops below 40 mph. The F Type starts at $69,000 excluding shipping.

XJR: After a four-year absence, a top-of-the-line R sport model returns to Jaguar's XJ sedan lineup. It has a 5.0-liter V8 engine with 550 horsepower and 502 pound feet of torque mated to an eight-speed transmission, and it can go from zero to 60 mph in a blistering 4.4 seconds. The XJR also has new, low-profile 20-inch wheels. A stop-start system, which shuts the vehicle down at stop lights, helps save fuel economy, which clocks in at 18 mpg in combined city/highway driving. The XJR starts at $116,000.

KIA

FORTE: The 2014 Forte small car, which went on sale in March, is bigger and sportier than the outgoing model. There are three trim levels: the base LX with a 1.8-liter, 148-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a manual transmission that starts at $15,900; an LX with an automatic transmission starting at $17,400; and the EX, which has a 2.0-liter, 173-horsepower four-cylinder engine and starts at $19,400. The LX gets 29 mpg in combined city and highway driving; the EX gets 1 mpg less. On the inside, the Forte has premium standard features, including wheel-mounted audio controls, satellite radio, power windows and heated folding side mirrors. Cruise control and keyless entry are optional. Two variations will go on sale this fall: The Forte5 hatchback and Forte Koup two-door. Those performance-oriented models will have two engine choices: The 2.0-liter, 173-horsepower four-cylinder or a new, turbocharged 1.6-liter I4 with 201 horsepower. Pricing hasn't been announced for the Koup or the Forte5.

CADENZA: Kia pulled its full-size Amanti sedan off the market three years ago. Now, it returns and gets significantly more upscale with the 2014 Cadenza. The Cadenza's big, 18-inch wheels and long, contoured hood give it a premium look. It's equipped with Kia's most powerful V6 engine ever, a 3.3-liter V6 with 293 horsepower, and has several new standard features, including a navigation system and rear-view camera in an 8-inch dashboard touch screen. Options on higher trim levels include Kia's first lane departure warning system, which beeps if the driver leaves the lane, and water-repellent front side windows. The Cadenza starts at $35,100, which includes complimentary maintenance for 36 months or 37,000 miles.

SORENTO: The 2014 Sorento crossover isn't completely new, but it has been significantly updated. It sits on a new chassis — to improve ride and handling — and has a new standard engine, a 2.4-liter direct-injection four-cylinder with 191 horsepower. A new 3.3-liter V6 with 290 horsepower is also available. The redesigned Sorento — which seats five or seven with the optional third row — offers two Kia firsts: a blind spot detection system and a power liftgate with programmable height levels. The outside is bolder with a larger grille and optional 19-inch wheels, while the inside is more sophisticated, with a simpler dashboard and a bigger, 8-inch touchscreen that's standard on higher trim levels. The Sorento, which went on sale in the spring, starts at $24,100.

SOUL: The funky, boxy Soul has a more premium look in its second generation, with more width and length and a more aggressive grille. Inside, there are upgraded materials and a larger, 8-inch touch screen in the dashboard. To improve the driving dynamics, the body is stiffer and the suspension has been reworked. There's an updated 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 130 horsepower on the base model, and a 2.0-liter, direct-injection I4 with 164 horsepower on higher trim levels. Pricing and fuel economy numbers haven't been released for the new Soul, which goes on sale this fall.

LAND ROVER

RANGE ROVER SPORT: Land Rover boasts that the 2014 Range Rover Sport is its fastest vehicle ever, with a zero-to-60 time of 4.7 seconds and a much more agile feel thanks to its new, lighter aluminum underbody. The inside is more luxurious and contains a new folding third row with two seats. Under the hood, there's a 3.0-liter V6 with 340 horsepower or a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 510 horsepower. The base engine gets 23 mpg on the highway; the V8 gets 17 mpg. The Range Rover Sport, which goes on sale this fall, starts at $63,495.

LEXUS

IS 250/IS 350: The 2014 IS, the smallest sedan in the Lexus lineup, now stands apart with the bold, spindle-shaped grille of other new Lexus models. The engines — a 2.5-liter, 204-horsepower engine in the IS 250 and 250 F Sport and a 3.5-liter, 306-horsepower V6 in the 350 and 350 F Sport — are carried over from previous models, but fuel economy has improved slightly, to 30 mpg on the highway for the 250 and 28 mpg for the 350. The biggest difference is in the driving dynamics. Lexus says steering is smoother and responds better to the driver, while a revised suspension improves performance. Lexus also did some spot welding on the body of the car to make it more rigid and improve the ride comfort. Inside, there's more room thanks to a 3-inch increase in the wheelbase and thinner front seats. Another feature new to the IS is standard folding rear seats. The IS 250 starts at $35,950, while the IS 350 starts at $39,465.

LINCOLN

MKC: Ford relaunched its luxury Lincoln brand in the spring with the new MKZ midsize sedan. It was the first of four new Lincolns expected over the next four years. The company hasn't yet confirmed which new vehicle will be next, but it's widely expected to be the MKC small crossover. If it looks anything like the concept shown in January at the Detroit auto show, the MKC will have subtly undulating sides and a panoramic glass roof. It will also get the brand's new Black Label trim level, with exclusive paint colors and premium interior touches like suede-wrapped pillars. Pricing hasn't been released.

MASERATI

GHIBLI: Maserati hopes to expand its customer base with the new Ghibli, a smaller four-door sedan designed and priced to compete with the Audi A7, BMW 6-Series and other high-volume luxury car makers. Pricing hasn't been released, but it's expected to be in the $65,000 to $70,000 range, or around half the cost of the larger Quattroporte. There are two engine choices: a 3.0-liter V6 with 345 horsepower in the base model and a 3.0-liter V6 with 404 horsepower for the sporty S version. The transmission is an eight-speed manual. Maserati promises more details in late September.

QUATTROPORTE: The Quattroporte sedan is longer and lighter than before, but still has Maserati's distinctive oval grille and elegant, minimalist styling. The base engine is the 3.0-liter V6 with 404 horsepower shared with the smaller Ghibli S. Also offered is a new 3.8-liter turbocharged V8 with 523 horsepower. For the first time, the sedan is offered with four-wheel drive. Pricing will be released later this fall when the car goes on sale.

MAZDA

MAZDA3: The third generation Mazda3 small car, which goes on sale this fall, now has the same elegant swooping lines, elongated hood and narrow headlights of the larger Mazda6. The Mazda3 now has Mazda's Skyactiv suite of fuel-saving technologies, which include lighter materials and a more efficient engine. The interior is upgraded, with new standard features including push-button start, automatic power door locks and keyless entry. It also offers new safety features, including a lane departure warnings system, a forward collision warning system and a system that automatically applies the brakes in low-speed situations to avoid a collision. There are two four-cylinder engine choices: the 2.0-liter with 155 horsepower and a 2.5-liter borrowed from the Mazda6 with 184 horsepower. Hatchback and sedan models with the 2.0-liter are estimated to get around 40 mpg on the highway; fuel economy with the 2.5-liter is a little lower. The Mazda3 starts at $16,945.

MAZDA6: The 2014 Mazda6 midsize sedan went on sale early in 2013 but has already gotten an update. Mazda is now offering its iELOOP technology on the Mazda6's top trim level. The system captures energy during braking and uses it to power all the vehicle's electrical components, including headlights, climate control and audio systems. Mazda says the system makes the Mazda6 the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid on the market, at 40 mpg on the highway and 32 in combined city/highway driving. The iELOOP system is part of a $2,000 option package on the Grand Touring edition of the Mazda6, which starts at $29,695. Mazda also plans to offer a 2.2-liter, four-cylinder diesel engine in the Mazda6 this fall, which will make it the first Japanese automaker to sell a non-commercial diesel in the U.S. Fuel economy and pricing for the diesel hasn't yet been released.

MERCEDES

CLA CLASS: Mercedes offers a relatively low-priced entry-level small four-door car with the CLA. It looks like a coupe and has a new inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine with gasoline injected directly into cylinders. It also has a seven-speed automatic transmission. Standard 17-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth technology and 5.8-inch color display. CLA250 front-drive car goes on sale in September with a 208 horsepower engine and a base price under $31,000. An all-wheel drive version comes early next year. There's also the CLA45 AMG all-wheel-drive with 355 horses that goes on sale in November.

E CLASS: All models get freshening with new standard LED headlights and tail lamps and redesigned rear bumpers. Inside, there's new grain on the dash, an analog clock, and the gear shift lever is moved to the steering column. Models already are on sale, starting at $51,900 excluding shipping.

S CLASS: The brand's flagship big sedan is redesigned for 2014 and will be the first car with no light bulbs because all of its lights are LEDs. The base S550 has a 4.6-liter biturbo V-8 with 455 horsepower. Rear-drive versions get Mercedes "Magic Body Control" in which cameras scan the road and adjust the suspension for the best driving comfort. Car also gets a more luxurious interior and safety upgrades. The S550 goes on sale in November, as does the high-performance S63 AMG 4Matic. Prices weren't announced.

MITSUBISHI

MIRAGE: The hatchback subcompact comes to America powered by a tiny 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine that puts out 74 horsepower. Has a continuously variable transmission and gets up to 44 mpg on the highway. Company says it's the most fuel-efficient gas-powered car in the U.S. that isn't a hybrid. Due out in the fall, price not yet announced.